A BUMPY ROAD TO SUCCESS

As one of the hydrogen front runners in the Netherlands, we have first-hand experience that cooperation throughout the entire chain is pivotal to make H2 a success story.

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A number of vehicle manufacturers have shown leadership by introducing the first models that drive on hydrogen in the past 4 years. This has partially broken the stalemate: no vehicles without stations, no stations without vehicles.

 

On the station side however, a real breakthrough was delayed because realizing a hydrogen filling station is expensive and complex. The initial costs are high and the organisation of the logistics chain is challenging compared to petrol or diesel. Anyone will understand that an expensive public station for passenger vehicles, combined with – initially- low sales volumes, does not add up to a solid business case.

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Therefore, we are very pleased that the Dutch government has taken an important step to give hydrogen mobility a well-deserved impulse.

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FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR 9 NEW PUBLIC HYDROGEN FUELING STATIONS

During the Festival for Sustainable Mobility, the Dutch government announced that they will co-finance the construction of nine new public hydrogen filing stations to further improve the sustainability of the mobility sector. This co-financing was a pivotal addition to investment from the private sector and subsidies that were already provided by the European Union.

 

These grant decisions, that fall under the so called DKTI transport scheme, give the market the final and much-needed support to realize these stations.

These new stations mean the total of public stations in the Netherlands will grow to eleven.

 

These twelve stations will give the Randstad conurbation in the Netherlands a substantial network.

Furthermore, connections to other parts of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium will become reality in 2019 and 2020. This gives the market the necessary confidence, provides the end-user with more flexibility and will enhance the image of the Netherlands as a hydrogen country.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT AS OUR PARTNER FOR THE TRANSITION

PitPoint is responsible for the realization of four of these stations. We are progressing fast with the realisation of a station for garbage trucks and passenger vehicles in Breda and a station for buses and passenger vehicles in Arnhem.

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Furthermore, we have commenced activities on realizing two additional public stations for passenger vehicles in Utrecht and Rotterdam.

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Our focus is on realizing these projects, but at the same time we know that we still have a long road ahead of us. Based on our experience with other sustainable fuels, we know that we need at least fifty stations in the Netherlands in order to have a solid base for the production of vehicles to take off.

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Therefore, we are constantly working on creating more cost-efficient stations and focus on smart logistic chains to bring down the price of hydrogen. To make this happen, close collaboration with other partners in the chain is necessary.

 

The government is a very important strategic partner and the recent DKTI grants give us hope that they are in it for the long run.

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If you would like to receive more information on our latest news and developments in the field of hydrogen, click here.